English Premiership Previews

Today

Charlton (17) v Leeds (4)

Charlton again rely on third-choice goalkeeper Andy Petterson. Simon Royce has been absent since injuring his knee in training last month while Sasa Ilic was stretchered off during the win over West Ham. Striker Clive Mendonca is suffering from a back injury and will have a late fitness test.

Leeds will be without Norwegian international duo Alfie Haaland and Gunnar Halle. Manager David O'Leary will have to patchup the right-back position as Haaland is still struggling with a groin injury while Halle sustained a knee problem during the goalless home draw with Liverpool. Welsh Under-21 international Matthew Jones is in contention to start only his second game for the club.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Charlton LDLWL, Leeds WWWWD

Top scorers: Graham Stuart (Charlton) 8; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds) 17

Match odds: 7-2 A 8-13 D 13-5

Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)

Coventry (15) v M'brough (7)

Coventry's Paul Telfer suffered a dead leg at Everton on Sunday and has been under treatment, but is expected to be fit.

Middlesbrough will give late fitness tests to Paul Gascoigne, Gary Pallister and Robbie Mustoe, but Gianluca Festa is ruled out by a thigh injury and wing-back Robbie Stockdale is suspended.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Coventry DLWWL, Middlesbrough WDWWD

Top scorers: John Aloisi (Coventry) 21; Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 18

Match odds: H Evs A 9-4 D 9-4

Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill)

Liverpool (9) v Aston Villa (5)

Liverpool are without hamstring victim Michael Owen and Karlheinz Riedle takes his place. Sean Dundee also comes into the reckoning up front. Steve Staunton is battling to recover from an ankle injury and Vegard Heggem's leg injury makes him a doubtful starter. Rigobert Song is back in action after international duty with Cameroon.

Paul Merson may return to the Villa starting line-up after impressing against Southampton last week. Fellow midfielder Alan Thompson is set to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, and Lee Hendrie is also in the reckoning to start in the middle.

Last season: Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 2 Liverpool 1

Last five league matches: Liverpool LLWDD, Aston Villa LLDDW

Top scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 23; Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 15

Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 9-4

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)

Man Utd (1) v Sheffield Wed (14)

United have reserve goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw on standby with Peter Schmeichel having treatment on a slight groin strain sustained in the FA Cup semifinal replay win against Arsenal. Jesper Blomqvist comes in for Ryan Giggs, who injured his ankle in the replay.

Yugoslav international Dejan Stefanovic has made himself available for Wednesday again after deciding not to play in the wake of the Kosovo crisis and with friends and family living in and around Belgrade. The defender played in the reserves in midweek.

Last season: Man Utd 6 Sheff Wed 1, Sheff Wed 2 Man Utd 0

Last five league matches: Man Utd WWWWD, Sheff Wed LLLLW

Top scorers: Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 26; Richard Cresswell (Sheff Wed) 19

Match odds: H 1-4 A 8-1 D 4-1

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe)

Newcastle (10) v Everton (16)

Newcastle youngsters David Beharall and Steve Caldwell are standing by to make their Premiership debuts because Steve Howey, Laurent Charvet and Didier Domi are injured and Nikos Dabizas is suspended. Beharall or Caldwell will team up with Aaron Hughes in central defence. Duncan Ferguson, who made his comeback in the FA Cup semi-final victory over Tottenham, may have to make do with a place on the bench against his former club.

Everton have Don Hutchison available again after completing a three-match ban. Nick Barmby is serving a one-match ban but David Unsworth has recovered from a bout of sickness and could replace Marco Materazzi, who has a three-match ban looming. Ibrahima Bakayoko is back from international duty with the Ivory Coast.

Last season: Newcastle 1 Everton 0, Everton 0 Newcastle 0

Last five league matches: Newcastle WLLWD, Everton LLLLW

Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 17; Ibrahima Bakayoko (Everton) 7

Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 9-4

Referee: G Poll (Tring, Hertfordshire)

Nottm For (20) v Tottenham (12)

Pierre Van Hooijdonk is expected to keep his place in the Nottingham Forest side despite being forced to train with the reserves earlier this week by manager Ron Atkinson. Forest will be without Carlton Palmer, who begins a two-match suspension following his sending off against Leeds a fortnight ago, for a game which could see them relegated to the Nationwide league.

Tottenham have Darren Anderton facing a late test on a hip injury and Andy Sinton is another doubtful starter. It could mean rare starts for Ruel Fox and Jose Dominguez and promising defender Ledley King is also in a 19-man squad. Justin Edinburgh is suspended but Stephen Clemence is fit again after three months out with a calf injury. Sol Campbell is expected to join the rest of his team-mates after attending Derby Magistrates Court where he is facing a charge of common assault on a Derby County steward.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Nottm Forest WLLDL, Tottenham WLWLD

Top scorers: Dougie Freedman (Nottm Forest) 11; Chris Armstrong (Tottenham) 12

Match odds: H 9-4 A Evs D 9-4

Referee: G Willard (Worthing, W.Sussex)

S'hampton (19) v Blackburn (18)

Southampton have Hassan Kachloul available again after international duty with Morocco and Latvian striker Marians Pahars is set to make his home debut after recovering from a knee injury. John Beresford could be recalled following a long-term knee problem. Goalkeeper Neil Moss is expected to recover from a groin injury but David Hirst is doubtful with a knee injury and Ken Monkou misses the game with a one-match ban.

Blackburn's record signing Kevin Davies, who has been plagued by throat problems, looks certain to start after the sudden loss of strike pair Chris Sutton and Matt Jansen and Kevin Gallacher is also on the verge of a return to Premiership action. Billy McKinlay is almost certain to miss out while recent recruit Lee Carsley is tipped for a start after shaking off an ankle problem.

Last season: Southampton 3 Blackburn 0, Blackburn 1 Southampton 1

Last five league matches: Southampton LWDLL, Blackburn LDWDL

Top scorers: Egil Ostenstad (Southampton) 8; Ashley Ward (Blackburn) 19

Match odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 9-4

Referee: G Barber (Pyrford, Surrey)

West Ham (6) v Derby (8)

West Ham have Ian Wright set to start for the first time this year. Wright, who tasted his first competitive action since January as a substitute in last week's 0-0 draw with Leicester, scored during a midweek reserve win. England defender Rio Ferdinand will need to pass a late fitness test on his ankle ligament injury if he is to play.

Derby plan to use three strikers, even though top scorer Deon Burton is suspended. Mikkel Beck is back from injury and Dean Sturridge could also link up with the Dane and Paulo Wanchope in a threepronged attack. Captain Igor Stimac, Stefano Eranio and Francesco Baiano are all still on the injury list.

Last season: West Ham 0 Derby 0, Derby 2 West Ham 0

Last five league matches: West Ham WWDLD, Derby WWLLW

Top scorers: Ian Wright (West Ham) 7; Paulo Wanchope (Derby) 9

Match odds: H 4-5 A 3-1 D 9-4

Referee: K Burge (Tonypandy)

Tommorrow

Chelsea (3) v Leicester (13)

Frank Leboeuf and Celestine Babayaro, who both missed the Blues' midweek draw at Middlesbrough through injury, are both back in the squad to face Leicester. Uruguay international Gustavo Poyet picked up a slight knee injury during the game at the Riverside but has recovered.

Chelsea old boy Frank Sinclair makes an emotional return to Stamford Bridge. He feared he would have to miss the game after picking up 11 bookings, but an FA disciplinary panel decided against imposing a suspension and instead, Sinclair was given an undisclosed fine and a warning about his future conduct. Muzzy Izzet remains doubtful after missing the last two games with a hamstring problem.

Last season: Chelsea 1 Leicester 0, Leicester 2 Chelsea 0

Last five league matches: Chelsea LWWWD, Leicester WDWDD

Top scorers: Tore Andre Flo (Chelsea) 13; Tony Cottee (Leicester) 15

Match odds: H 1-3 A 13-2 D 10-3

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham)

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill